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New Data Suggest Mars Soil Not As Life-Friendly As Thought
Space.com on Yahoo ^ | 8/4/08 | Andrea Thompson

Posted on 08/04/2008 6:07:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

New results from NASA's Phoenix Mars lander suggest that the surface layers of the Martian arctic region may not be as friendly to life as initial results suggested, NASA said today.

Two samples analyzed within the last month by Phoenix's Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) suggest that the Martian dirt may contain perchlorate, a highly oxidizing substance, which would create a harsh environment for any potential life.

The findings stand against the results from MECA's first analysis, which indicated the dirt was Earth-like in certain respects, including its pH and the presence of certain minerals.

"Initial MECA analyses suggested Earth-like soil. Further analysis has revealed un-Earthlike aspects of the soil chemistry," said Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith.

The news came today on the heels of a report on Friday that MECA had found intriguing results that had been shared with the White House. In correspondence with SPACE.com, Smith denied that any briefing with the White House had been held.

And the findings are inconclusive as yet, Smith indicated. "We are committed to following a rigorous scientific process," he said. "While we have not completed our process on these soil samples, we have very interesting intermediate results."

NASA will hold a press briefing tomorrow to further discuss the new MECA findings.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: data; mars; marslander; martiandesert; nasa; perchlorate; soil
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1 posted on 08/04/2008 6:07:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html

NASA Spacecraft Analyzing Martian Soil Data, Teleconference Scheduled

08.04.08. — Scientists are analyzing results from soil samples delivered several weeks ago to science instruments on NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander to understand the landing site’s soil chemistry and mineralogy.

NASA will hold a media teleconference on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. EDT, to discuss these recent science activities.


2 posted on 08/04/2008 6:09:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/

The Phoenix Mission .. The University of Arizona


3 posted on 08/04/2008 6:12:59 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE toll-free tip hotline 1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge

The soil has the acidity of chlorine, the temperature is a balmy -40 F°, the air is thinner than at the top of Mt. Everest, and now you tell me I can’t grow some nice cabbages on Mars?


4 posted on 08/04/2008 6:16:27 PM PDT by 6SJ7
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To: NormsRevenge
WATER FOUND ON MARS

BUT ONLY FIT FOR A MARTIAN.

5 posted on 08/04/2008 6:17:49 PM PDT by Spunky (You are free to make choices, but not free from the consequences)
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To: NormsRevenge

perchlorate is the solvent used to dry clean clothes.

Mildly carcinogenic


6 posted on 08/04/2008 6:24:00 PM PDT by kidd
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To: kidd

so we won’t need to take our washing machines then...:)


7 posted on 08/04/2008 6:31:31 PM PDT by stefanbatory
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To: NormsRevenge

Well, wouldn’t vaporizing the samples kinda skew the information they’ll get from it?


8 posted on 08/04/2008 6:31:58 PM PDT by wastedyears (Show me your precious darlings, and I will crush them all)
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To: kidd

Rocket Fuel


9 posted on 08/04/2008 6:32:22 PM PDT by Domangart (editor and publisher)
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To: NormsRevenge

“We have analyzed 3 grams of dirt from an area the size of a planet and have concluded we don’t know a fricking thing about a fricking thing”, NASA said today.


10 posted on 08/04/2008 6:35:33 PM PDT by bigheadfred (American Ground Zero part 4)
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To: kidd
perchlorate is the solvent used to dry clean clothes.

Nope. You're thinking of perchloroethane or perchloroethylene, both chlorinated organic solvents.

Perchlorate (sodium or potassium salt) is a strong oxidizer and can make some really nice fireworks if mixed with the right fuel and metal salts (explosives too).

11 posted on 08/04/2008 6:46:04 PM PDT by seowulf
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To: NormsRevenge
Two samples analyzed within the last month by Phoenix's Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) suggest that the Martian dirt may contain perchlorate, a highly oxidizing substance, which would create a harsh environment for any potential life.

Well gee.... No wonder nothing is growing or living there...

12 posted on 08/04/2008 6:47:11 PM PDT by sit-rep
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To: seowulf

Metal salts? ...Like aluminum powder??


13 posted on 08/04/2008 6:49:13 PM PDT by sit-rep
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To: 6SJ7

No cabbage-growing, but you can dry clean your clothes there!


14 posted on 08/04/2008 6:51:20 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: NormsRevenge

This would support the Viking soil conclusions from the 1970’s - complex organic molecules don’t have a chance in such an environment.


15 posted on 08/04/2008 6:53:30 PM PDT by PC99
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To: Domangart
Rocket Fuel

Might the lander have introduced that?

16 posted on 08/04/2008 6:56:08 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: Spunky

17 posted on 08/04/2008 6:56:24 PM PDT by CurlyBill (Barak Obama wants Dhimmitude for America)
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To: NormsRevenge

Why always LIFE? I think there may be popsicle sticks up there. That’s what keeps me enthused.


18 posted on 08/04/2008 7:00:12 PM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great (until it happens to YOU)...)
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To: seowulf
You're thinking of perchloroethane or perchloroethylene, both chlorinated organic solvents.

Or, in the old days, carbon tetrachloride.

It does make you wonder where all the halides came from though. Aside from salt, there aren't a lot of fixed inorganic halides on earth, certainly not in the form of perchlorates. Was Mars' atmosphere dominated by free molecular chlorine at some point, whereas Earth's was largely inert nitrogen, with some oxygen and carbon dioxide? That would tend to explain why Earth's inorganic salts tend to be carbonates and nitrates rather than halides ...

19 posted on 08/04/2008 7:15:06 PM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: NormsRevenge
New results from NASA's Phoenix Mars lander suggest that the surface layers of the Martian arctic region may not be as friendly to life as initial results suggested...

It can't be much worse than the chirt that makes up most of my yard.

20 posted on 08/04/2008 7:30:42 PM PDT by meyer (...by any means necessary.)
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